Variety of calla lily plant named ‘Halifax’

ABSTRACT

‘Halifax’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having inflorescences with a white/purple-colored spathe that produces 3-10 inflorescences per tuber. The height of the top of an inflorescence above the soil can reach up to 47 cm, and the leaves are dark green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘HALIFAX’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Halifax’.

‘Halifax’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as C03001(female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri selectionreferred to as E439 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Halifax’ was selected in2010 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Halifax’ by tissue culture wasperformed by the inventor in September of 2012 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouseconditions, which approximate those generally used in horticulturalpractice. Color references are made to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London, except where general color termsof ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Halifax’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Spathe with white color present at the start of flowering on        the inner surface from between White Group RHS 155A and 155B        that changes to between Purple Group RHS N79A and N79B during        senescence;    -   2. Purple leaf margin; and    -   3. Colored flower bud.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Picasso’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 15,282), ‘Picasso’ has an upper surface base spathe color ofGreen-Yellow Group RHS 1D and a second color that varies between PurpleGroup RHS 76A and Red-Purple Group RHS 74B, whereas ‘Halifax’ has anupper surface spathe color that varies between Purple Group RHS N79A andN79B, with a second color between White Group RHS 155A and 155B.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Halifax’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selections C03001 and E439.

TABLE 1 ‘Halifax’ Similarities Differences C03001 Maculation intensitySpathe color Leaf color Spathe size Number of inflorescences Spatheshape E439 Leaf shape Spathe color Plant shape Number of inflorescencesPurple leaf margin

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a group of multiple plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT The Plant

-   Size:    -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—16.5-46.5 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—23-47 cm.        -   Diameter.—7-43 cm.-   Form: Erect.-   Number of inflorescences per tuber:    -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—3-6 inflorescences.        -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—4-8 inflorescences.        -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—6-10 inflorescences.-   Branches:    -   -   Character.—Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 18,833).        -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 147B and Greyed-Purple            Group RHS 187B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Width: 3-12 cm. Length: 12.5-21.5 cm.        -   Number per plant.—14-26.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A to Yellow-Green            Group RHS 147A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 147A.        -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Greyed-Purple Group RHS            184A and 184B.        -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 137A            to 137C.        -   Surface quality.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Length: 8.5-25 cm. Color: The base is White Group            RHS 155A, and the upper part is between Greyed-Red Group RHS            178A and Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A.-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—White.        -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

The Inflorescence and Seeds

-   Spathe:    -   -   Size.—Length (measured from opening to tip): 5.5-11 cm.            Width: 3-7 cm. Height: 6-11 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between Purple Group RHS N79A            and N79B, with a second color between White Group RHS 155A            and 155B. Lower surface: Varies between Red-Purple Group RHS            59B and 59C.        -   Vein color.—Between Red-Purple Group RHS 59A and            Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187C.        -   Shape.—Cupped.-   Spadix:    -   -   Size.—Length: 25-30 mm. Diameter: 4-7 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 12A and 12B.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Size.—Length: 15.5-39 cm. Diameter: 6-10 mm.        -   Color.—The upper part is between Red-Purple Group RHS 59A            and 59B, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.        -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.            Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’            (U.S. Plant Pat. No 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS            155A and 155B.        -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between            Yellow Group RHS 12A and 12B.        -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group            RHS 155A and 155B.        -   Pistils.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1            mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.        -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Greyed-Purple            Group RHS 186A and 186B.        -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:            Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow Group            RHS 12A and 12B, bottom color is from White Group RHS 155B            to Green-White Group RHS 157C.-   Seeds:    -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.        -   Width.—3-6 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.        -   Amount.—Between 1-60.

General

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to    date.-   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date.-   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance.-   Hardiness: Not hardy.-   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in    February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in    The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July.-   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant.-   Fragrance: None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Halifax’ as herein described and illustrated. 